Ferguson says senior drug benefit in the works

Congressman reviews agenda before Republican Association.

By: Jennifer Potash
   After a few weeks of rest, Congress returned to Washington this week with an ambitious to-do list including resolving differences on proposed tax cuts and a federal prescription drug benefit for senior citizens.
   Rep. Michael Ferguson (R-7) addressed the Republican Association of Princeton’s monthly breakfast meeting at the Nassau Club Tuesday. Mr. Ferguson’s district includes Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill.
   A member of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Ferguson said the committee will write the prescription drug benefit legislation that will most likely cost $400 billion over a 10-year period.
   While some audience members worried about a big new social program, Rep. Ferguson pointed out the option plan would provide relief to the more than 1 million New Jersey seniors without such coverage.
   "It is a new entitlement and there’s no way around that," said Rep. Ferguson. "I think it is a generous and a responsible plan." Democratic proposals in the House have called for spending $1 trillion or more over the same time period, he said.
   He also threw his support behind the $550 billion tax cut over 10 years approved by the House of Representatives. The Senate approved a $350 billion tax cut over the same period.
   Rep. Ferguson, a former teacher, said he is pleased that legislation he cares deeply about — the reauthorization of the 28-year-old Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — was approved by the House on Wednesday.
   "The federal government hasn’t been as good a partner with the local level as it should have been and we’re trying to fix that with this bill," he said.
   The bill, which updates the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, is intended to reduce the number of students deemed learning disabled by helping struggling children earlier. Another aspect in the legislation is to reduce paperwork and legal expenses of states that face lawsuits from parents seeking additional help for disabled children. The House approved the bill Wednesday by a 251-171 vote.
   Rep. Rush Holt (D-12), whose district includes Princeton Borough, Princeton Township, West Windsor and Plainsboro, said he voted against the bill since the legislation fails to fulfill a Congressional obligation to fully fund special education.
   "Instead, it gives appropriators an eight-year window to continue to pass on the high costs of special education to our local school districts," Rep. Holt said in a statement Thursday.